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Syracuse wins Pinstripe Bowl

PINSTRIPE BOWL

KATHY WILLENS

After catching a 36-yard pass, Syracuse wide receiver Marcus Sales (5) runs toward the end zone for a second-quarter touchdown while pursued by Kansas State linebacker Alex Hrebec (56) and cornerback Emmanuel Lamur (23) during the Pinstripe Bowl NCAA college football game at Yankee Stadium on Thursday, Dec. 30, 2010, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

NEW YORK - Delone Carter ran for 198 yards and two touchdowns, Marcus Sales caught three long TD passes and Syracuse got some help from a celebration penalty on Kansas State to beat the Wildcats, 36-34, in the first Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium.

Adrian Hilburn slipped a tackle and raced to a 30-yard touchdown catch with 1:13 remaining to pull Kansas State within two. Hilburn saluted the crowd behind the visitor's dugout and was flagged 15 yards for unsportsmanlike conduct, which pushed the 2-point conversion attempt back to the 17-yard line.

Carson Coffman overthrew Aubrey Quarles in the end zone, and when Kansas State (7-6) couldn't come up with the onside kick, Syracuse (8-5) only had to take a knee to win a bowl game for the first time since 2001.

Daniel Thomas ran for three TDs for Kansas State, which was making its first bowl appearance since 2006.

The first bowl game in New York in 48 years turned out to be a home run.

The teams traded big plays right from the start - Thomas went 51 yards for a score on the second play from scrimmage - and scored touchdowns on the first five second-half possessions.

Kansas State coach Bill Snyder, sensing field goals would not be enough, called for a fake with about five minutes left in the fourth from the 10, but Syracuse stacked up Ryan Doerr on the run.

Carter, who scored two second-half TDs, broke free for a 60-yard run on the next play. It set up Ross Krautman's 40-yard field goal with 3:08 left that made it 36-28.

Coffman, who played brilliantly in his last college game, led the Wildcats into Syracuse territory and connected with Hilburn near the sideline about 10 yards down field. After winning a footrace to the end zone, he dropped the ball, did a quick salute and turned to celebrate with his teammates.